B/128032 Trooper FARAGHER, Arnold B.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
If anyone here will be at Beltring tomorrow, will you find Hanno and pass the text of this message along? The Faraghers were personal friends of his as well, and I know he'd like to be informed.

It brought tears to my eyes when - thanks to Simon - I read Arnold died. I know the Faraghers from their visit to the Netherlands two years ago. The first week they visited a family in Tilburg where Arnold used to be billeted in 1944. The second week I took them to various places of interest, like Groesbeek cemetery and the Kangaroo memorial at Mill. Fun stuff included the sights and sounds of Holland, like a tour along the tulip fields in Dirk's Chevy Gun Tractor.

It was a privilege knowing him - may he rest in peace.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I know the Faraghers from their visit to the Netherlands two years ago. The first week they visited a family in Tilburg where Arnold used to be billeted in 1944. The second week I took them to various places of interest, like Groesbeek cemetery and the Kangaroo memorial at Mill. Fun stuff included the sights and sounds of Holland, like a tour along the tulip fields in Dirk's Chevy Gun Tractor.

It was a privilege knowing him - may he rest in peace.

Here are some pictures of Arnold and Marge Faragher's visit to Holland back in 2001. I happened to come across them again, so I thought it was best to share them here.

Arnold at Kranenborg, Germany. This town just across the border in Germany,
is where his best friend Aurele Deslisle was killed on 9 February 1945.
Arnold really wanted to go back to the spot where Delisle's Kangaroo was hit:
Faragher vist Holland 2001 (19).jpg

Arnold next to the grave of Cavalier (Trooper) A. DELISLE (D 15800).
He is buried at Groesbeek cemetery- see link:
Faragher vist Holland 2001 (17).jpg

Arnold pointing out the name of Trooper H.G. JOHNSTON (M 8053, killed 17 January 1945).
Johnston is MIA, known to have been killed by mortar fire between Dieteren and Susteren, Limburg (read more here):
Faragher vist Holland 2001 (5).jpg

Arnold and Marge at the Groesbeek cemetery and the well-known Groesbeek windmill:
Faragher vist Holland 2001 (15).jpg Faragher vist Holland 2001 (20).jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Arnold and Marge at the Ram Kangaroo memorial at Mill, The Netherlands - see http://www.mapleleafup.net/vehicles/.../restore7.html

We went there to visit "his tank". Arnold passed away in 2003. In 2005 I returned there with his fellow veterans, Troopers Art Bell, Bill Miller Sr. And Ed Sawchuk.

Faragher vist Holland 2001 (12).jpg Faragher vist Holland 2001 (14).jpg

Faragher vist Holland 2001 (13).jpg Faragher vist Holland 2001 (8).jpg

[Bill Miller]

I regret that I never got to meet Arnold.

The Groesbeek windmill photo you posted reminds me of an unidentified image in the Archive collection from the Regt's unofficial photographer, Cpl Grant Herbison. I don't know if it the same windmill, or the significance of why he photographed this one?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bill Miller

I regret that I never got to meet Arnold.

Bill, sorry to hear that, you would have liked him for sure.

The Groesbeek windmill photo you posted reminds me of an unidentified image in the Archive collection from the Regt's unofficial photographer, Cpl Grant Herbison. I don't know if it the same windmill, or the significance of why he photographed this one?

The picture of Cpl Herbison is of a different windmill. Have you any clue where he took the picture? There were many windmills in Holland back then...

Read this entry for the significance of the windmill at Groesbeek:
https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/6...Graoesbeek.htm

Hanno